One of the most valuable things you can be is easy to work with.
I’ve talked with a lot of editors and marketing directors over the years, and one thing I’ve heard a lot is that they’ll choose a less talented writer who’s easy to work with over someone with all the talent in the world who’s difficult.
But being easy to work with can be taken too far.
If you have these “easy to work with” communication habits, you need to check in to make sure they aren’t holding back your growth as a writer.
Let’s dive in…
Always Being Positive
Whether you had people telling you to look on the sunny side of life, to be positive because that made you likable, or to keep your negative emotions to yourself, there’s a good chance you rely on this communication habit at least some of the time.
And here’s the thing… there are definite benefits to bringing a positive, can-do attitude to your work. But not at the expense of honesty.
If you hesitate to point out problems with a project, or if you routinely keep your struggles with work to yourself, then you might be staying positive to your own detriment.
When you’re honest without making personal attacks or being gloomy, you give your clients a chance to meet you where you’re at. And, when you’re honest about obstacles or errors you see in a project, you’re giving your client the information they need to make the best decisions possible.
When you find yourself about to answer a question about a project or your mental state with a reflexively positive response, try taking a slow breath, consider what you really think, and then give an honest, matter-of-fact reply.
If your client were to say, “What do you think about this headline?” you could say, “It looks great!” Or you could take a slow breath, consider the headline carefully, and then give an honest answer. You might frame the honest answer in positive terms… something like, “The underlying structure is good, but if it were more specific it would be stronger.”
And the answer to, “How are you doing today?” becomes more than, “I’m fine.” It could be, “I’m excited to interview Mr. Spencer for the pillar post we’re writing, but he keeps postponing the date, and I’m beginning to worry about delays. What are your thoughts?”
If you’re willing to be honest about the state of things — including yourself and how you’re feeling — without making it personal or emotionally charged, you give better, more thoughtful feedback, and you give your colleagues a chance to help you out when you need it. Both will result in stronger work and deeper trust between you and the people you work with.
Keeping the Peace
When things get tense between you and a client, do you remain calm and continue to make your case? Do you accept that disagreements happen, outline your argument clearly, and then move on with what that client decides?
Or, do you backtrack, apologize, and even attempt to fix problems you didn’t create?
A lot of us were taught as kids to keep the peace… and that can show up in your professional life as conflict avoidance.
Not too long ago, I worked with a client with a big personality and very strong opinions. When reviewing work, it wasn’t uncommon for him to make unhelpful criticisms, like, “This headline is terrible… I mean, who even cares?”
If you’ve got a “keeping the peace” communication habit, it’s easy in a situation like that to apologize, ask the client what they’d like the headline to say instead, and then move on. But that diminishes the professional skills and experience you bring to the table. And it doesn’t set you and the client up for future success.
This is another situation where slowing down can help. Instead of responding with an apology or a defensive answer, simply make your case for why you wrote the headline the way you did. It might sound something like, “For this particular piece, we’re targeting a specific audience segment, and the wording reflects how they speak about this topic.”
Or, you could get even more direct and say, “I value your feedback. But, when you just tell me it’s terrible, that doesn’t really help me understand what’s not working. Can you be more specific, so I can suggest a way to improve it?”
Before you respond, think about what you know and about what you need… and then base your answer on those things rather than on a desire to get through the discomfort as quickly as possible.
Not Setting Boundaries
In an effort to look like a hard worker, you might not set firm boundaries with your clients.
This could look like answering calls or text messages from clients after your normal work hours, agreeing to take on deadlines that aren’t reasonable, or accepting scope creep without comment.
If you have clients who simply don’t respect your boundaries, then you need to start looking for other, better clients who do.
But first… ask yourself if your boundaries are clear.
A client who calls or texts in the evening with an idea they want to discuss might be tapping into their own natural workflow, unaware that your workflow is different.
A client who asks for one more email in the funnel you’re writing might just be excited about the possibilities and not thinking through the fact that it’s extra work for you… work you should get paid for.
It’s up to you to make sure your boundaries are clear. That means recognizing when a situation arises that doesn’t work for you or that takes advantage of you and addressing it at the earliest moment that makes sense.
Some things, like what hours you’re available for calls and how quickly you respond to email messages, you should discuss up front when you land a new client.
Other things, like scope creep, need to be addressed in the moment. Keep it simple and direct: “Adding an additional email to the funnel is a good idea. I’ll revise the proposal we agreed on to reflect that new deliverable.” And then send over the new proposal with adjustments to your fees and the timeline.
Being Easy to Work With Doesn’t Mean Being a Pushover
It’s laudable to want to be easy to work with. That’s something many clients value even more than raw talent.
But being easy to work with doesn’t mean letting yourself be taken advantage of. It means delivering work on time, being responsive, and being pleasant. It doesn’t mean suppressing your own needs, boundaries, and thoughts to keep your clients comfortable. Oftentimes, a little discomfort is what it takes for growth to happen… and that benefits both you and your client!